Day trip to Fuengirola…

Spent a very enjoyable day in Fuengirola yesterday. Bus (€7.17 return) to Málaga then train (€2.95 each way) to Fuengirola, the end of the C-1 local train (Cercanias) line. One thing I had never encountered before in all the time I have been in Nerja is the potential danger of purchasing a return ticket.

Arriving back at Málaga bus station for the return journey to Nerja, I was feeling relief at not having to queue for a ticket, especially if a bus was about to leave. However, as I and several others with return tickets -which by definition are ‘open’ as opposed to being for a specific time – we were told to wait until everyone else who had bought a ticket at the bus station had boarded.

Once they had all boarded and it was decided that there was sufficient room on the bus, the ‘return’ ticket holders were allowed on the bus. So, it is conceivable that, on a busy day, a return ticket holder could end up waiting all evening or, in extreme circumstances I presume, not being able to get back at all.

For the few cents it saves and despite the pleasure of not having to queue at a ticket officer, I would say the safest option is to avoid return tickets and buy two singles during busy periods, like the summer.

Be that as it may, back to the main non-plot.

Quite a few people on the beaches in Fuengirola, but not crowded by any means.

Fuengirola has obviously been hit by the economic situation, the same as everywhere else along the coast. Perhaps even more so in some respects.

Certain areas – and I did rather a lot of walking – have been hit worse than others with what seems like every other shop, bar, restaurant or whatever closed, closing, for sale or for rent. What I didn’t notice, and I could have just missed them, were the countless, and excess, ‘never been used’ locales such as you find in Nerja, Frigiliana and the like.

The beach bars and restaurants seemed to be doing a very good trade, some packed to the rafters. Some of the second line of bars and restaurants, of which there are many, were not doing as well, despite offering very good value for money – €2 for a pint of beer, €4 for a pizza etc.

Visited the Bioparc – formerly Fuengirola Zoo – as it seems to be advertised everywhere these days. Excellent if you are into nature. Well laid out, remarkably spacious for the animals in many ways despite being in the centre of town and not occupying a huge area of land.

It costs €16 for adults and in the summer is open from 10:00 to 24:00. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Also managed to get to the castle – quite a hike – perched on a small hill close to the beach.

A thoroughly enjoyable day out.

Oh yes. There are always numerous complaints about dog poo on the streets of Nerja, with some streets being a veritable minefield, but I can honestly say I did not see one ‘pile’ during the whole day in Fuengirola so they must have overcome this problem somehow.

There are notices at regular intervals along all the beaches prohibiting dogs, with threats of fines for the owners, and there are also notices asking people to please keep ‘our’ city clean.